Strut Assembly: Removal

WARNING: DO NOT REMOVE NUT FROM STRUT ROD WHILE STRUT ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE OR BEFORE STRUT ASSEMBLY SPRING IS COMPRESSED.

Raise and support vehicle. (Refer to LUBRICATION & MAINTENANCE/HOISTING - STANDARD PROCEDURE)
Remove wheel and tire assembly.
If both strut assemblies are to be removed, mark strut assemblies right or left according to which side of vehicle they were removed from.

Remove screw fastening wheel speed sensor routing bracket to strut assembly. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Wheel Speed Sensor Mounting To Strut

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STRUT ASSEMBLY

2 - SCREW

3 - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ROUTING BRACKET

CAUTION: When removing nut from stud of stabilizer bar link, do not allow stud to rotate in it's socket. Hold stud from rotating by placing an open-end wrench on flat machined into stud. See Fig 2.

Remove stabilizer bar link from bracket on strut assembly. See Fig 2. To do so, place an open-end wrench on flat machined into link's mounting stud, then remove nut while holding wrench in place. Push stud out of bracket.

Fig 2: Stabilizer Bar Link To Strut
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - NUT

2 - STRUT

3 - STABILIZER BAR LINK

CAUTION: The steering knuckle to strut assembly attaching bolts are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Remove nuts while holding bolts stationary in steering knuckles.
Remove two bolts and nuts attaching strut clevis to steering knuckle. See Fig 3 and Fig 4.

Fig 3: Left Side Correctly Oriented Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STRUT

2 - BOLT

3 - NUT

Fig 4: Right Side Correctly Oriented Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - STRUT

2 - BOLT

3 - NUT
If servicing left strut assembly, remove nuts fastening coolant recovery bottle in place and reposition bottle with hoses attached out of way. (Refer to COOLING/ENGINE/COOLANT RECOVERY PRESS CONTAINER - REMOVAL)
Remove three nuts attaching strut assembly upper mount to strut tower, then remove strut assembly from vehicle. See Fig 5.

Fig 5: Attachment To Strut Tower
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - NUT

2 - STRUT TOWER

3 - STRUT ASSEMBLY
To disassemble strut assembly, (Refer to SUSPENSION/FRONT/STRUT - DISASSEMBLY) .